CNN commentator suggests Kamala Harris replace Sonia Sotomayor

On Friday, CNN political analyst Bakari Sellers speculated that Vice President Kamala Harris should replace Justice Sonia Sotomayor,  if the liberal judge can be convinced to resign.

Before Donald Trump can take the oath of office, CNN's Bakari Sellers suggested that President Biden nominate Vice President Kamala Harris to replace Supreme Court Justice, Sonia Sotomayor, as The New York Post reported.

The third-oldest Supreme Court justice, Sotomayor, is a potential replacement for Trump and the Republican majority in the Senate. "CNN News Central" moderator John Berman asked Sellers about Democratic worries about this.

Sellers contended that Sotomayor ought to resign in order for Biden and the existing Democratic majority to appoint a new liberal justice to the court in the months leading up to Trump's inauguration.

Commentator's Take

"You know, Justice Sotomayor has been a more than able justice. I know that she may be having some personal issues that she contends with while serving on the bench. But, you know, I don’t want Justice Sotomayor to be another Ruth Bader Ginsburg in terms of staying too long," Sellers said.

"And so I hope that Joe Biden makes the next ten weeks as consequential as he can. I don’t care about drawing outside the lines or what Republicans may think about it. This is within your purview. You can actually do it and you should do it. And you know, one more thing, John, is you have a hell of a vice president right there who has a legal pedigree to sit on the Supreme Court. And let Republicans go crazy, ape, I’m even mentioning that option."

Berman looked taken aback by the suggestion and wanted to know if Sellers was suggesting that Harris be appointed to the Supreme Court.

"Not only am I floating it, but I want to stir up everything. I want people’s heads to explode this morning. So we go into the weekend just knowing that the chaos has not ended just yet," Sellers said.

The Double Down

Sellers reiterated his idea in an X post on Sunday, speaking to the logistics of the possibility of another Biden appointee on the bench:

Other bold ideas, Sotomayor needs to resign. The court is currently 6-3. This would limit Trumps ability to make it 7-2. It’s silly to believe there is no difference.

You can confirm in 10 weeks (see ACB). You have very good previously vetted candidates…. Sri Srinivasan,… https://t.co/gsOHe7XAjo

— Bakari Sellers (@Bakari_Sellers) November 10, 2024

Despite reports that Democrats are contemplating demands for Sotomayor's resignation, the 70-year-old justice has not yet indicated that she intends to retire.

No retirement announcements have been made by other senior justices, such as Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito.